Futures tick values, in one place
Tick size, tick value and point value for the 17 contracts prop traders actually run. A prop account fails on a dollar figure, not a chart level — so the number that matters is what your stop distance costs in dollars, per contract.
| Symbol | Contract | Exchange | Tick size | Tick value | Point value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | Crude Oil WTI | NYMEX | 0.01 | $10 | $1,000 |
| YM | E-mini Dow Jones | CBOT | 1 | $5 | $5 |
| NQ | E-mini Nasdaq-100 | CME | 0.25 | $5 | $20 |
| RTY | E-mini Russell 2000 | CME | 0.1 | $5 | $50 |
| ES | E-mini S&P 500 | CME | 0.25 | $12.50 | $50 |
| GC | Gold | COMEX | 0.1 | $10 | $100 |
| MBT | Micro Bitcoin Futuresmicro | CME | 5 | $0.50 | $0.10 |
| MYM | Micro E-mini Dow Jonesmicro | CBOT | 1 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
| MNQ | Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100micro | CME | 0.25 | $0.50 | $2 |
| M2K | Micro E-mini Russell 2000micro | CME | 0.1 | $0.50 | $5 |
| MES | Micro E-mini S&P 500micro | CME | 0.25 | $1.25 | $5 |
| MET | Micro Ether Futuresmicro | CME | 0.5 | $0.05 | $0.10 |
| MGC | Micro Goldmicro | COMEX | 0.1 | $1 | $10 |
| SIL | Micro Silvermicro | COMEX | 0.005 | $5 | $1,000 |
| MCL | Micro WTI Crude Oilmicro | NYMEX | 0.01 | $1 | $100 |
| NG | Natural Gas | NYMEX | 0.001 | $10 | $10,000 |
| SI | Silver | COMEX | 0.005 | $25 | $5,000 |
Turning a stop into dollars
This is the only calculation that matters on a funded account, and it is one line: ticks × tick value × contracts.
A 12-tick stop on 2 MNQ, at $0.50 a tick, risks $12.
Before fees and slippage, and assuming the stop fills at your price — which in a fast market it may not.
Run that against the room your account actually has left today and you know whether the trade fits the rules — which is the whole reason a prop trader cares about tick values at all.
Common questions
What is a tick in futures trading?
A tick is the smallest price increment a contract can move. It is not the same as a point: on the equity index futures a point is made up of four ticks, because the tick size is 0.25. Tick value is what one of those increments is worth in dollars, per contract — which is the number that actually decides what a stop costs you.
What is the difference between tick value and point value?
Point value is what a full 1.00 move is worth per contract; tick value is what the smallest increment is worth. Tick value equals point value multiplied by tick size. On MNQ that is $2 a point and a 0.25 tick size, so $0.50 a tick.
Why do tick values matter on a prop firm account?
Because a prop account fails on a dollar figure, not a chart level. Your drawdown and daily loss limits are stated in dollars, so translating a stop distance in ticks into dollars at risk is the arithmetic that decides whether a trade fits inside the rules on that account. It is also why traders size in micros: the same stop distance costs a tenth as much.
What is the difference between a micro and a mini contract?
A micro is a smaller version of the same contract, usually one tenth the size. Trading one mini and trading ten micros give near-identical exposure, but the micros let you scale in and out in smaller steps — which matters when your account has a fixed dollar drawdown. Note that at least one prop firm counts a micro the same as a mini against its contract limit, so check your own plan before assuming micros buy you headroom.
Are these specs guaranteed to be current?
These are the standard exchange specifications and they change rarely, but they can change, and your broker may apply its own rounding, fees or contract availability. Treat this page as an educational reference and confirm anything decision-critical with your broker or the exchange.
Position sizing tool
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Prop firm rules, side by side
The drawdown and daily loss limits these numbers have to fit inside.
Educational reference. These are the standard exchange specifications. They change rarely but they can change, and your broker may apply its own rounding, fees or contract availability. Confirm anything decision-critical with your broker or the exchange.
Not advice. Nothing here recommends a contract, a position size, or a trade. Trading futures carries substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.